Australian senator breaks party ranks, accuses Israel of 'genocide'

Australian Labor senator Fatima Payman broke ranks from her party to accuse Israel of committing a "genocide" in Gaza, and called on the prime minister and the Australian government to sanction Israel.

Payman criticised Australian leaders for "performative gestures", it was seems to be a veiled criticism of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

"Instead of advocating for justice, I see our leaders performatively gesture defending the oppressor's right to oppress, while gaslighting the global community about the rights of self defence," she said on Wednesday.

"This is a genocide and we need to stop pretending otherwise. The lack of clarity, the moral confusion, the indecisiveness is eating at the heart of this nation."